unit, a rather unexpected move considering the fact that the company
does not have license on x86 instruction set, but also a fairly
logical one now that the company has switched its chief scientist.
A news-story by The Inquirer web-site claims that "Nvidia is
definitely working on an x86 chip and the firm is heavily recruiting
x86 engineers all over Silicon Valley". Back in 2006 the designer of
graphics processing units hired numerous specialists from Stexar
company, which also designed central processing units (CPUs) and
related technologies. Additionally, back in January '08 Nvidia
replaced its chief scientist David Kirk with William Dally, who is
known for his expertise in parallel computing technologies as well as
work on Cell/Larrabee-like chips.
Since Nvidia, unlike Advanced Micro Devices or Via Technologies, does
not own a license on x86 instruction set originally developed by Intel
Corp., it cannot formally launch x86-compatible processors. However,
Nvidia may license IBM's Power architecture or even code-morphing
software developed by Transmeta. In that case Nvidia's microprocessors
will hardly be really competitive performance- and support-wise.
Theoretically, Nvidia could launch an x86 CPU without getting a
license from Intel Corp., but a legal battle with the world's largest
chipmaker would hardly end in Nvidia's favour. Moreover, considering
the fact that Nvidia will have 0% of the market from the start as well
as no infrastructure in place, and that the legal dispute would last
for a couple of years only it is hardly possible that by the end of
the litigation the company will have substantial enough market share
to justify a law suit from Intel.
Nvidia badly needs its own microprocessors in order to promote its
core-logic sets as well as platforms. Since forthcoming x86 CPUs from
AMD and Intel will have graphics processors integrated, there is
hardly a lot of space on the market for Nvidia's chipsets, hence,
creating of system-on-chip products similar to Tegra, but aimed at
personal computers, may be an option for Nvidia.
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